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Birch polypore
Piptoporus betulinus
51.2925, -0.643078
Field Notes
Description:
Usually seen between the months of June and December, this bracket fungi can be seen growing on standing and fallen, dead birch trees and range from 6 - 20 cm (these ones were between 18 - 20 cm). The fruiting body is broad and 'tongue shaped'. While the flesh is white, the upper surface of the fruiting body is brownish in colour and removable. There is a single pore layer as can be seen in photo 3. This fungus is common throughout Europe. It can harbour a large number of insects/spiders that depend on it for food and or breeding sites (as seen in photos 4, 5 and 6).
Habitat:
Growing on dead birch trees.
Notes:
As the name suggests, these grow exclusively in birch trees and the fruiting bodies may last up to a year.
The birch polypore is a necrotrophic parasite on weakened birches, and will cause brown rot and eventually death. It is one of the most common fungi visible on dead birches. It is likely that the birch bracket fungus becomes established in small wounds and broken branches and may lie dormant for years, compartmentalised into a small area by the tree's own defence mechanisms, until something occurs to weaken the tree. Fire, drought and suppression by other trees are common causes of such stress. In most infections there is only one fungal individual present, but occasionally several individuals may be isolated from a single tree, and in these cases it is possible that the birch bracket fungus entered after something else killed the tree. These fungal "individuals" can sometimes be seen if a slice of brown-rotted birch wood is incubated in a plastic bag for several days. This allows the white mycelium of the fungus to grow out of the surface of the wood. Wikipedia.
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